Respiratory issues diagnostics and treatment

[palo1]

I completely get your anxiety - I have 3 horses at various levels of brokenness and it can be incredibly stressful. I still suspect that if all of your horses are struggling then it is some kind of bug. If it is environmental then have you changed anything at all recently? No matter how minor it might have seemed.

We have a mare with asthma on our yard. She's in her late teens and fast hacks for miles daily - only doesn't school because of an old leg injury. She has a nebuliser for bad days (we had a lot of horse struggle in June this year for some reason) and her owner runs the hose through her hay.

A friend has used salt therapy for her horse which depending on your vet results might be worth investigating. She swears by it.

Keeping fingers crossed its something that is easily fixable

Thank you. It is great and really helpful to read this positive stuff. I am confident that if we can properly diagnose and treat the problem that management is likely possible; I am just massively daunted by that and the unknowns as well as just gutted to have a young horse with a problem. I am also becoming mildly (muchly) obsessed with respiratory rates; all of our horses rates were raised at rest this morning but they all look a picture of health and happy to belt round the field and apart from Alw who is on a small dose of clenbuterol, none are being actively treated for anything. (yet). Ho hum.

 

[palo1]

Slightly better news - vet rang through again today with PCR test results for Strangles. Thankfully our horses have tested negative for that which is a relief and means that I can take my older horse out for a quiet, much needed ride tomorrow. This small bit of good news was very welcome and I am really impressed with how much care the vet is taking over communications and checking on our herd.

 

[milliepops]

glad you have a bit of relief from the tough times palo, enjoy your ride will keep fingers crossed re the rest.

 

[palo1]

Thank you. Yes, a tiny bit of good news makes a whole load of difference and my older horse is absolutely wonderful (if he coughs I will be putting him in detention however!!). It is what is needed and hopefully signals a change in the winds of our fortune...

 

[Muddy unicorn]

Our 11 year old gelding was diagnosed with asthma last summer - he'd not had any breathing issues before. The first thing we noticed was he was breathing 3-4 times faster than normal (35-40+ resps per minute) - he had no cough, no temperature, no discharge - he looked fine apart from his breathing going haywire. It happened very suddenly, pretty much exactly a year ago. He was out 24/7 at the time but had had several weeks of box rest earlier in the year following a field accident.

Eventually he saw a respiratory specialist who did an endoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage - there was a lot of mucus in his airways and fungal spores and he was diagnosed with equine asthma. He was started on steroids and ventipulmin via a nebuliser which he tolerated really well and after a few weeks we weaned him off the steroids. Before winter, we scrubbed out his stable, de-cobwebbed the ceiling, had extra windows put in to improve the airflow, changed his bedding to dust-extracted shavings and put him on soaked hay fed from the floor.

He's not had a repeat episode since then although I've been watching him like a hawk in case it was a seasonal late-summer trigger. Fingers crossed your mare also has a good response.

 

[palo1]

Our 11 year old gelding was diagnosed with asthma last summer - he'd not had any breathing issues before. The first thing we noticed was he was breathing 3-4 times faster than normal (35-40+ resps per minute) - he had no cough, no temperature, no discharge - he looked fine apart from his breathing going haywire. It happened very suddenly, pretty much exactly a year ago. He was out 24/7 at the time but had had several weeks of box rest earlier in the year following a field accident.

Eventually he saw a respiratory specialist who did an endoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage - there was a lot of mucus in his airways and fungal spores and he was diagnosed with equine asthma. He was started on steroids and ventipulmin via a nebuliser which he tolerated really well and after a few weeks we weaned him off the steroids. Before winter, we scrubbed out his stable, de-cobwebbed the ceiling, had extra windows put in to improve the airflow, changed his bedding to dust-extracted shavings and put him on soaked hay fed from the floor.

He's not had a repeat episode since then although I've been watching him like a hawk in case it was a seasonal late-summer trigger. Fingers crossed your mare also has a good response.

Thank you so much for posting this. I am hopeful that one vile incident of respiratory trouble may be sufficient or that I can easily manage the issue. I am glad that I am having a scope done so 'early' rather than trying medication without that investigation. We don't ever really stable our horses though we do have stables in an open barn (already de-cobwebbed and pressure washed!). Nebuliser has been acquired so I am a little more equipped to provide a variety of meds now at least too...I really appreciate you sharing your experience @Muddy unicorn

 

[TPO]

I don't know if my story helps or not.

When I was on livery 3 of the other horses were coughing up green gunk. The owners wouldn't get a vet and continued riding/competing. YO trotted out her usual line "there are horses worse off in Egypt, it's fine" ??

Obviously with my luck being what it is Chip got a cough. I got the vet out straight away and he did a full examination and all of the usual breathing tests. They came back to take samples, scope and wash. The test results showed that it was a viral infection.

I can't remember offhand but I'm imagining that I got danolin, antibiotics and ventipulmin. Chip was 5 at that stage and this was the April.

The yard was american barn internal stables with no through breeze and horses had to be stabled at night year round. The yard also backed onto forestry.

So again as my luck would go, the only horse that got veterinary attention and that didn't leave the yard, was left with long last effects.

Basically because of this he has been left with what is now classified as asthma. Thankfully it is relatively mild.

While I was stuck on livery I changed my bedding to bedmax, soaked hay and tried to keep him out as much as possible.

When he moved to my parents place in the July he was able to be out 24/7. The vet checked him over as he got his vaccinations that month and it had really improved.

His respiration rate is on the higher side of average but never above normal.

I've usually managed with only needing a very low dose of ventipulmin when hes stabled more in winter. I also bought a Haygain and swapped to Nedz Pro bedding.

Since last winter I've needed to keep him on ventipulmin daily. Its only a very low dose, quarter of a scoop, daily. After some trial and error that's the method that works best.

The vet was back out this month for this year's vaccinations, Chip is 9 now, and theres no change. I'm aware that a resistance to ventipulmin can occur but at such a low dose the vet isn't concerned.

My vet also is keen on the inhalers. Chip isnt bad enough to need one but there are options.

Chip is my pet and not out galavanting as a competion horse but he manages fine. Hes susceptible to dust and apparently now pollen, that he didnt have before the virus, but the fitter he is the stronger his lungs are. This heat and dry dusty summer isnt helping

But basically my point is that mild respiratory problems can be managed with a few tweaks and life can carry on as normal

 

[palo1]

I don't know if my story helps or not.

When I was on livery 3 of the other horses were coughing up green gunk. The owners wouldn't get a vet and continued riding/competing. YO trotted out her usual line "there are horses worse off in Egypt, it's fine" ??

Obviously with my luck being what it is Chip got a cough. I got the vet out straight away and he did a full examination and all of the usual breathing tests. They came back to take samples, scope and wash. The test results showed that it was a viral infection.

I can't remember offhand but I'm imagining that I got danolin, antibiotics and ventipulmin. Chip was 5 at that stage and this was the April.

The yard was american barn internal stables with no through breeze and horses had to be stabled at night year round. The yard also backed onto forestry.

So again as my luck would go, the only horse that got veterinary attention and that didn't leave the yard, was left with long last effects.

Basically because of this he has been left with what is now classified as asthma. Thankfully it is relatively mild.

While I was stuck on livery I changed my bedding to bedmax, soaked hay and tried to keep him out as much as possible.

When he moved to my parents place in the July he was able to be out 24/7. The vet checked him over as he got his vaccinations that month and it had really improved.

His respiration rate is on the higher side of average but never above normal.

I've usually managed with only needing a very low dose of ventipulmin when hes stabled more in winter. I also bought a Haygain and swapped to Nedz Pro bedding.

Since last winter I've needed to keep him on ventipulmin daily. Its only a very low dose, quarter of a scoop, daily. After some trial and error that's the method that works best.

The vet was back out this month for this year's vaccinations, Chip is 9 now, and theres no change. I'm aware that a resistance to ventipulmin can occur but at such a low dose the vet isn't concerned.

My vet also is keen on the inhalers. Chip isnt bad enough to need one but there are options.

Chip is my pet and not out galavanting as a competion horse but he manages fine. Hes susceptible to dust and apparently now pollen, that he didnt have before the virus, but the fitter he is the stronger his lungs are. This heat and dry dusty summer isnt helping

But basically my point is that mild respiratory problems can be managed with a few tweaks and life can carry on as normal

Thank you for this. It must have been absolutely gutting to have people so blooming daft and irresponsible with your horse paying the price for that It is helpful and encouraging to hear all these experiences and I am aware that a great many horses have respiratory issues which are horribly easy, it would seem, to acquire. I have read, as you do, of so many cases of 'sudden' asthma in the kind of weather we are having which is pretty horrible. Very glad to hear Chip is all good; you must be really pleased to have done such a good job. I am aware that if Alw's asthma diagnosis is correct and is related to summer stuff then it will be hard to make some of the most important changes to her environment but I will do my best!

 

[TPO]

Thank you for this. It must have been absolutely gutting to have people so blooming daft and irresponsible with your horse paying the price for that It is helpful and encouraging to hear all these experiences and I am aware that a great many horses have respiratory issues which are horribly easy, it would seem, to acquire. I have read, as you do, of so many cases of 'sudden' asthma in the kind of weather we are having which is pretty horrible. Very glad to hear Chip is all good; you must be really pleased to have done such a good job. I am aware that if Alw's asthma diagnosis is correct and is related to summer stuff then it will be hard to make some of the most important changes to her environment but I will do my best!

Gutting is putting it mildly!!

This is the first summer that Chip had had to stay on medication. I don't know of it's the pollen or dust.

Due to all the weather issues that have affected the grass along with the heat & flies they are in during the day. Our stables are internal with hay and tractor stored in the same shed so far from ideal. The plan is to have external stabled before this winter but I'm not holding my breath ? it's really hard to manage dust and pollen and I'm guessing that's why hes needed daily ventipulmin for the first time.

The vet is always happy with him and I'm vigilant with checking his respiration rate. We arent our galloping about or jumping so his lungs are never under too much stress but I'd imagine the fitter he is the stronger his lungs and the vet agrees.

T'is annoying because you just want them to be ok ?

 

[palo1]

Gutting is putting it mildly!!

This is the first summer that Chip had had to stay on medication. I don't know of it's the pollen or dust.

Due to all the weather issues that have affected the grass along with the heat & flies they are in during the day. Our stables are internal with hay and tractor stored in the same shed so far from ideal. The plan is to have external stabled before this winter but I'm not holding my breath ? it's really hard to manage dust and pollen and I'm guessing that's why hes needed daily ventipulmin for the first time.

The vet is always happy with him and I'm vigilant with checking his respiration rate. We arent our galloping about or jumping so his lungs are never under too much stress but I'd imagine the fitter he is the stronger his lungs and the vet agrees.

T'is annoying because you just want them to be ok ?

Well if I can get Alw better enough, I will certainly make sure that she is slimmer and fitter; those are things I can control. I sympathise about it being difficult to micromanage a horse's environment too - I am looking at our fields with hedges and wonderful rural location in a slightly different light in view of a pollen issue...Still we might move uphill and then the constant rain and breeze would be helpful I suppose...

 

[GoldenWillow]

The scope and BAL should hopefully be able to tell you whether you are looking at bacterial, viral or asthma. My horse developed summer pasture asthma at 6, although wasn't diagnosed until he was 7. He is managed in a dust free way and is fine usually from October through to May or June with this and on no meds. During the summer months he has nebulised steroids either once a day or every other day and with this he is able to be in full work including fast work. I think you are in a very good position to manage it, if it does turn out to be asthma, as you have them at home opposed to having to work around a livery yard. Good luck and I hope you get some answers.

 

[palo1]

The scope and BAL should hopefully be able to tell you whether you are looking at bacterial, viral or asthma. My horse developed summer pasture asthma at 6, although wasn't diagnosed until he was 7. He is managed in a dust free way and is fine usually from October through to May or June with this and on no meds. During the summer months he has nebulised steroids either once a day or every other day and with this he is able to be in full work including fast work. I think you are in a very good position to manage it, if it does turn out to be asthma, as you have them at home opposed to having to work around a livery yard. Good luck and I hope you get some answers.

Thank you - this is very encouraging and I appreciate everyone sharing their experience which is making me feel more confident about coping with a respiratory difficulty. Today madam was doing gymnastics in the field and whilst puffing a bit, no cough or wheeze and clearly feeling good in herself which is lovely for me. I am trying to be calm about what the scope might find!!

 

[palo1]

Alw had her endoscope and tracheal wash this morning. It was done under standing sedation (very light at first to check structural things) at home and was fascinating. Vets attending were both lovely and positive, sympathetic and able to answer all of my questions. The camera didn't show much other than generalised inflammation with only a small amount of mucous so the opinion (of the vet) is still trending towards a viral/bacterial infection which has triggered an asthma event. Asthma per se is looking very mild. The vet driving the scope did manage to capture some mucous for the lab though which will be helpful! In structural terms everything looks positive and normal and there is no real sense that any further structural diagnostics need to be done. That is a relief. I just have to wait for the cytology now and then come up with a plan to treat whatever problem there is but I am really glad to have got the endoscope bit done with. I really appreciate my vet's approach to this knowing that this will be on my own account and not under insurance; we are aiming for max diagnostic outcome at first hit! Poor Alw, it is not a particularly pleasant procedure. Vet has suggested that hacking in walk is ok and would be beneficial in the next few days if Alw's resp rate is within the normal zone and we hope to start medicating as soon as lab results are back. I understand it has been a really difficult summer for horses in respiratory terms and my vet says she has seen loads and loads of new cases - they are hoping that these are pretty much one-off events caused by the weather/environmental conditions. I have also managed to buy a S/H flexineb nebuliser so I am hoping we can offer the best treatment possible if that is needed. Waiting for lab results is not fun but I have been told not to worry about my sweet mare and that we are moving as quickly as possible to get sorted.

 

[milliepops]

ah, tentative good news then hope you get the results back soonest.

 

[palo1]

Vet's orders were to ride in walk if and when respiratory rates were 'normal' (depending on the weather - below 20) so yesterday Alw went for a single flat mile hack. She was very jolly and although she had coughed when I hopped on, she didn't cough at all whilst she was walking. She was clearly thrilled to be going somewhere. I understand how important physical activity is for respiratory conditions but I am rather relieved that the vet has given me the nod to carry on. Today her resp rate is looking good again so we will perhaps go a little further. It's the start of respiratory rehab I hope. It's really helpful to write all this down so grateful for a thread of our own now.

 

[palo1]

And today we did around 4-5 miles in walk. Up until a month ago Alw was happily doing 12-15miles in all paces so that seemed ok to me. I chose the flattest route I could!! She coughed a bit after starting off but then was very lively - dancing, spooking and offering trot and even canter when she wasn't allowed to trot... Really chuffed that she is so up for getting out and about again. It 'feels' like this is good and positive and is lovely to be back in the saddle. I did, in fact allow Madam to trot briefly twice when we met 2 vehicles and she was super-happy to show off her best Welsh cob trot. Sadly I wouldn't let her keep going but wonderful to feel that underneath me. I am very grateful to my vet for encouraging us to do this tbh - it is very reassuring in fact to see how Alw is feeling when not just in the field.

 

[palo1]

My vet rang me with Alw's cytology results whilst I was hacking her our. News is good as whilst those results show a variety of inflammatory cells, the overall levels are mild. My vet believes that our horses have encountered an environmental nasty with Alw most affected. The key suspect are the huge number of toadstools/mushrooms that were present when this trouble started. Treatment is likely to be a one-off unless Alw's respiratory system has become very oversensitised - we will have to wait and see. In any case, Alw herself is so much better that I am now nursing a broken finger...she has woken up to her hacking work and I was tootling along on the buckle only to be given the classic welsh spook and spin over something nothing in the hedge!! I hurt my finger trying to hang on to her whilst on the road - sigh. All is well though and we had a lovely ride with some trot up a steep hill (no coughing or puffing) and even 10 strides of canter I am hugely relieved but also know of 2 horses that have had similar now with one of those also having colic . Not sure we can do much about toxic fruiting bodies...mass application of fungicide doesn't appeal...

 

[DirectorFury]

I’m so glad it’s nothing major Palo and that Alw is feeling better, it’s bit off of her to break your finger though!
Interesting to read that it could be related to mushrooms/toadstools, I wonder if the wetter winters are going to make these sorts of issues more common?

 

[SEL]

That sounds like good news and if it happens at the same time next year then at least you'll know its fungus spores. My little pony with her displaced palate is struggling in the past week and its this time last year when we did her scope so its obviously environmental again - some sort of pollen setting her off. I'm moving the horses before winter so it will be interesting to see if she has the same problem next August or if it is something in the local area

 

[palo1]

Thank you It's a bit hard to type but that seems a small price to pay for news that sweet Alw's problem is classed as mild. You never know do you? If we face this issue again I will feel so much better equipped to deal with it. It was lovely to have such a lively horse again but my finger has a definate black line, v swollen and hurts like b***ery!!